When you consider the odds of your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) application being denied, applying seems like a gamble. When a majority of SSDI applicants are denied, it can be difficult to stay positive as you watch your income dwindle. Many people ask us if applying or appealing a denial is even worth the battle.

Our answer is a resounding yes. Many of the denied applications contain similar mistakes that are made far too often, and their odds of success would have been much higher had they avoided these common pitfalls.

With Social Security disability benefits, time is money—so here are some of our top tips for submitting a successful application or appeal:

Apply when your condition prevents you from working full-time. Many people interpret the Social Security Administration’s definition of a disability too literally, assuming that their own disability must have kept them out of work for over 12 months before applying. This only prolongs their financial suffering; if you are diagnosed with a condition that will keep you out of work for at least one year, you may apply as soon as that condition prevents you from working full-time on a regular basis.

Disclose all of your medical and mental conditions and impairments on your application, not just your disabling condition. Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are awarded based on your cumulative conditions. Some of your ailments, while not completely debilitating on their own, could be considered very debilitating when combined. Disclose everything, and let your claims agent decide which of your conditions will affect your ability to work regularly.

Check, check, and double-check your application for errors. Too many people are denied because they were missing critical information such as medical documents, or because of a simple mistake. In an ideal world, the agent handling your application could ask you to send in missing information, but these individuals are overwhelmed with a backlog of applicants, and may deny you rather than delay other applicants. Make your application perfect, and make the agent’s job of approving your application even easier.

One of the most important things to remember is that a denial of your application is not the end of the road—you can still request an appeal to that decision. By enlisting the help of our Social Security disability attorneys as early as possible in your appeal process, you can help ensure that your case is as strong as possible as it moves forward.

Call our office today to schedule a free consultation, or click on the live chat link to be connected with a firm representative now.